SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Junior doctors in South Korea have four days to end their work stoppages, the government said Monday, or face prosecution or revocation of their medical licenses.
About 9,000 medical interns and residents have been absent from work since early last week in protest against the government's plan to increase medical school admissions by about 65%. The work stoppages have significantly affected the operations of their hospitals, with numerous surgeries and other treatments being canceled.
Government officials say hiring more doctors is necessary to cope with South Korea's rapidly aging population. The country's current doctor-to-patient ratio is among the lowest in the developed world.
The strikers say universities cannot accept as many new students and argue the plan would not address chronic shortages of doctors in some important but low-paying fields such as pediatrics and emergency rooms.
Vice Health Minister Park Min-soo said during a televised news conference on Monday that the government will not take disciplinary action against striking doctors if they return to work by Thursday.
“We want them to return to work by the end of this month, February 29th. If they return to the hospitals they left by then, we will not hold them responsible for any damage caused by their work stoppages,” Park said. “It is not too late. Please return to the patients immediately.”
However, he said those who fail to meet the deadline will be punished with at least a three-month suspension of their medical license and face further legal action such as investigations and possible charges.
Doctors hold a rally against the government's medical policies near the presidential office in Seoul, South Korea, Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
Under South Korea's Medical Law, the government can issue orders to doctors and other medical staff to return to work if it sees serious risks to public health. Refusal to comply with such an order can result in the revocation of their license and a prison sentence of up to three years or a fine of 30 million won (US$22,480). Those sentenced to prison will have their license to practice medicine revoked.
Hyeondeok Choi, a partner at Daeryun law firm specializing in medical law, said it was highly unlikely that the government would revoke the licenses of all striking doctors as it would cause “a huge medical vacuum.” Other observers said authorities were likely to punish strike leaders.
There are about 13,000 medical interns and residents in South Korea, most of whom work and train in 100 hospitals. They usually support senior doctors during operations and look after inpatients. They make up about 30 to 40% of all physicians in some large hospitals.
The Korea Medical Association, which represents about 140,000 doctors in South Korea, has said it supports the striking doctors but has not decided whether to join the junior doctors' strikes. Senior doctors have held a series of rallies in recent days expressing their opposition to the government's plan.
Doctors march to the presidential office during a rally against the government's medical policies in Seoul, South Korea, Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
Earlier this month the government announced universities would admit 2,000 more medical students from next year, up from the current 3,058. The government wants to increase the number of doctors to 10,000 by 2035.
Striking doctors have said they fear doctors facing increasing competition will overtreat, putting a strain on public health spending.
A public poll showed that about 80% of South Koreans supported the plan. Critics suspect that doctors, one of the highest-paid professions in South Korea, are opposing the recruitment plan because they fear they would face greater competition and lower incomes.
Park said the country's medical service for emergency and critical patients would remain stable, public medical institutions would extend their working hours and military hospitals would open emergency rooms for ordinary patients. However, local media reported that an octogenarian who suffered a cardiac arrest was declared dead last Friday after seven hospitals turned her away, citing a lack of medical staff or other reasons likely related to the work stoppages.
Hwang Byung-tae, a 55-year-old throat cancer patient, said he has regularly visited a hospital in Seoul for treatment for four years. Last week he said he had to leave the hospital without receiving a cancer shot because of the walkouts.
Hwang accused both the government and doctors of taking patients' lives hostage. “It is patients like me who end up suffering and dying, not them,” Hwang said.
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Associated Press writer Jiwon Song in Seoul, South Korea contributed to this report.